StatFox.com - Sports Handicapping Community

The Leader In Sports Handicapping

Blazers try to stay hot Friday visiting Bulls
By: Freddy Wander - StatFox
Published: 12/12/2014  at  7:58:00 AM
  Print This Article    

PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS (17-5)

at CHICAGO BULLS (13-8)

Tip-off: Friday, 7:05 p.m. ET
Line: Chicago -2.5, Total: 199.5

The Trail Blazers continue their East Coast road trip on Friday night when they visit the Windy City to take on the Bulls.

Portland has had a spectacular start to the 2014-15 campaign and comes into this contest as victors in 14 of its past 16 games. In that time the club is 8-7-1 ATS, but has covered just one game in the past seven attempts. On Wednesday, the Blazers put up one of their worst performances on the season when they visited Minnesota as 10-point favorites, but left as 90-82 losers in a sloppy game. Both teams shot worse than 40% from the floor, with Portland making a mere 31-of-80 attempts (38.7% FG) as it turned the ball over 20 times. Chicago has tons of talent on its roster, but has been dealing with injuries all season, as it is 4-2 (both SU and ATS) in the past six games leading up to this one. The Blazers have not been the sure thing shutdown defense of last season, as four teams have broken the 100-point mark over the past seven games against them while they have lost three of those contests. The Bulls were able to lay a whooping on Brooklyn most recently though, when they hosted the Nets as 11-point favorites and dominated in a 105-80 win. The Brooklyn shooters were helpless against the Chicago defense and shot a putrid 33% from the floor as the Bulls eclipsed triple-digit scoring for the seventh straight game. Portland has been rather successful when playing on the road with a record of 7-3 SU (5-5 ATS) while Chicago has managed to go just 3-5 SU (2-6 ATS) in front of its hometown faithful. This series has been dominated by the Blazers in recent history, as they have won seven straight games in this matchup dating back to the 2010-11 season, while going 6-1 ATS and winning by an average of 10.4 PPG. The Bulls have not been able to get it together offensively against Portland and have hit fewer than 40% of their shots in each of the past three meetings while going a mere 30-for-83 (36.1% FG) from the field in their last matchup; a 105-87 loss on the road. Some trends to keep an eye on include that Chicago is a poor 24-44 ATS (35%) in non-conference games over the past three seasons while the Blazers have gone 19-33 ATS (37%) after playing two consecutive road games in the same timeframe. Injuries should not be an issue for Portland in this one, while the Bulls have C Joakim Noah (ankle) listed as questionable.

Can the Bulls slow down the red-hot Blazers on Friday night? For the answer, connect to The Platinum Sheet for all the Expert picks throughout the entire 2014-15 season. While StatFox Forecaster has a stellar 62% ATS record (64-40) in featured games this season, the five experts have also caught fire with a collective 73% ATS mark (37-14) in NBA Best Bets since Nov. 29. StatFox Gary is 9-1 ATS during this timeframe to give him a 64% ATS record (21-12) in NBA Best Bets this season, while StatFox Brian is 10-1 ATS since Nov. 29 to improve to 61% ATS (20-13) in NBA Best Bets this season. Also during this surge, StatFox Dave is 7-3 ATS and StatFox Scott is 7-4 ATS.

The Blazers have been solid on the offensive end this season with 102.2 PPG (12th in league), despite shooting a poor 44% from the floor as a team. Where they have really improved is on the defensive side of the ball, as they are allowing the fifth-fewest points (95.3 PPG) this year behind 42.8% shooting (3rd in NBA). PF LaMarcus Aldridge (21.7 PPG, 9.9 RPG, 1.3 BPG) has hit just 11 of his past 35 shot attempts (31% FG) while recording a double-double in eight of his past 10 games. He’s had no real trouble when facing the Bulls over 16 career games (15 starts), going for 19.4 PPG (50% FG) and 8.4 RPG. PG Damian Lillard (19.8 PPG, 6.2 APG, 5.1 RPG, 1.5 SPG) has shot a mere 41% from the field over the past five games and had 23 points against the Timberwolves despite a poor 9-for-24 shooting night. He’s actually been quite solid in his five career starts against Chicago, as he is averaging 19.4 PPG (52% FG) to go along with 5.8 APG and 1.2 SPG. SG Wesley Matthews (17.1 PPG, 3.7 RPG) has been cold from behind the arc over the past five contests (30% threes) but is coming off three straight performances with 18+ points scored. In two games against the Bulls last season, Matthews was able to net 19.5 PPG on 52% FG.

The Bulls have been a much different team this season while excelling on the offensive end (102.7 PPG, 10th in league) and making 45.6% of their shots. On the other side of the ball, where they were elite last season, they have allowed 99.5 PPG (13th in league) despite teams shooting only 43.4% from the field against them (6th-best in league). PF Pau Gasol (19.8 PPG, 12.2 RPG, 1.9 BPG) has been a huge addition for this club, and is averaging an amazing 22.2 PPG (51% FG) and 15.6 RPG over his past five contests. He’s had plenty of opportunities to face the Blazers (44 starts) and averaged 16.6 PPG (44% FG) to go with 9.0 RPG and 1.5 BPG in that time. SG Jimmy Butler (21.5 PPG, 5.5 RPG, 1.5 SPG) has been improving with each season in the NBA, and has had over 20 points in three of his past five games while shooting 49% from the field. In the one game against Portland last season, Butler was able to tally 10 points and six rebounds while failing to record a defensive stat. PG Derrick Rose (16.2 PPG, 5.1 APG) still looks like he is trying to catch up to the game, but is coming off one of his better performances of the year in the win over the Nets when he recorded 23 points, four assists and four rebounds. His numbers against the Blazers in seven career starts are fairly solid, as he has scored 19.7 PPG (46% FG) while dishing out 6.0 APG.


FoxSheets.com
The FoxSheets - the most advanced sports handicapping information available on the internet.
Sign up for professional sports betting information including fantastic trends, and Free FoxSheets.
E-mail: